Theft detector for automobiles



l I. I. MICHALSKI. THEFT DETECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED Aus aI. I92I 'Patented Apr. 11,

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THEFT DETECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

Applicationvfiled August 31, 1921. Serial No. 437,345?.

To all ywhom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Josnrri J. MicHALsni, a citizen of t-lie United States, iesiding at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Theft Detectors for Automobiles, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to a detector or identifying device for protecting automobiles and similar vehicles from theft.

lts chief object is to provide a device of this character having an improved presence indicating member.

Another object of the invention to provide a detachable holder or container for the resence-indicating-member of the device.

Still further objects are to provide an identifying device for automobiles which is simple and compact in construction, which is conspicuous, and which can be produced at a moderate cost.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of the improvement showing the ,presence-indicating member inposition. Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the absence-detecting member in position. Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation thereof showing the presenceindicating member in position. Figure -lis a sectional view` similar to Fig. 3, but showing the presence-indicating member removed and the absence indicating member in position. Figuies 5 and 6 are enlarged transverse vertical sections on the correspondingly numbered lines in Figs. l and 2, respectively. Figure T is' an enlarged horizontal section on line T T, Fig. 1. Figure S is a horizontal section on line S#S, Fig.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the holder for the presence-indicating member. Figure l0 is perspective view of vone of the bars of the presence-indieating members.

Similar characters of. .reference indicate corresponding parts' throughout the several views.

This improvement is adapted to Vbe applied to the bodyof an automobile or simi'- lar vehicle where it is conspicuous and clearly visible from either side thereof.

The operative parts of thisdevice are preferably arranged in a rectangular box-like casing or housing l5 which is open at itsvopposite sides and provided at its lower end with attaching flanges 1 6 for securing the Y,same to the body of, theautomobile. The

upper portion ,of one side of this casing is preferably provided with a swinging door frame 17 hinged at i8 and having a suitable lock 19.V I

lhe opposite sides of the casing are pro vided with suitable means for presenting a. characteristic foreground or setting, and for this purpose the open sides of said casing are provided with panes or panels 26, 2l, preferably of glass or other transparent material, while the door fi'aine 1T mayl also be provided with a similar pane or panel 22. .is shown in Figs. l, 2, 5 and 6, the upper and lower portions of the panel 20 are preferably provided on one side thereof with a colored surface 23, such, for example, as red, which is bright and conspicuous, while the central or inteiniediate portion 2l vof said panel is left transparent. The corresponding lower portion of the panel 2l is provided with a similarly colored surface 25, while its upper portion 26 corresponding to and in line with the central portion 24k of the panel 20, is left transparent. The door panel 22 is provided with a like-colored surface 2T corresponding to and in line wit-li the upper colored surface 23 of saidpanei 20. Thus, on either side of the casing there is a certaintransparent baror. portionand above and below the latter there are por- Vtions of a conspicuous color forming a charv acteristic setting or ground for the indicating members of the device. i

Arranged within the casing l5 and inovable into-` and out of register with the transparent portions of the panels 20, 2l, are twordetecting or indicating members 28, 29, the former of which is adapted to indicate the owner-s absence from his car and the Vlatter the presence in the car of the owner or some authorized person. These indicating members are of the proper dimensions to occupy the area covered by the transparent port-ions 24, 26 of the corresponding panels of the casing. The absenceindicating member 28 isof the same color or characteristic nature as the colored portions of the panels 20, 2l, 22, while the presence-indicating member 29 is of a contrasting color or of a different characteristic nature than said member 28 and said panels, and is preferably provided with a highly finished reflecting surface. Furthermore, these indicating members are preferably arranged to move in unison, so that when one set in 'its operative or indicating position,

the other is automatically set in its inoperative or non-indicating position, and the preferred means for accomplishing this result are constructed as follows:

The absence-indicating member is .guided for. vertical movement on upright posts arranged in the bottom of the casing l5, said posts passing through corresponding openings 3l in the base ot said member and being providedat their upper ends with heads 32 which serve to limit the upward movement et the indicating member. Coil springs 33 tend to project the latter to its operative or indicating position,

-The presence-indicating member 29 is adapted to control the movement ot the absence-indicating member 28 as it is moved kinto and out of its operative position and,

as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and l0, the same preferably consists of a movable horizontal head plate 34e from which depend a plurality of vertically disposed bars-or units 35 which may be of any desired shape in cross section and Which are preferably highly finished, These bars may be rigidly secured at their upper ends to said head kplate in any apv )ro riate manner and they are arrano'ed so that their upright edges overlap the oorresponding sides of adjacent bars to produce a continuous and uninterrupted surface, as shown in Fig. The head plate is guided for vertical movement in a si'iitable holder,

housing or container 36 which may be iletachably secured Within the upper portion ot the casing l5 in any suitable i manner. The ends ot said head plate extend through upright guides or slots 37 located in the end ivalls et the holder and terminate in suitable handles or finger pieces tor actuating head plate toy raise and lower he bars i into and out of the holder to register `with the transparent portions 2li, E26 o t Nthe casing.

Said bars 35 are guided at their louer ends in corresponding openings 39 Vformed in the base ot the holder. Also Carried by the head plate 34 and depending therefrom are push rods 4t() which pass through corre spending openings il in the base of' the holder, said rods beingatapted ro ciY the upper side of the absence-indo member 28. i'rirranged Within the holder and preferably surrounding the push rods are coil springs 42 which constantly tend to Velevate the head plate and its detecting` bars Within said holder, as shown by dotted linesI in Fig, 3. l l

Asshown in Fig. 5, the guide slots 37 ot theholder 36 preferably extend troni a point Vabove the lase ot the latter to the upper end thereof, said holder beingclosed at its upper end by a cover 43. By this construction, the head plate 34 and its associated parts can be readily assembled Within the holder and thosenortions le ot the cover adjacent said guide slots act as stops to limit the upward movement ot the head plate in said holder.

In order to'hold the head plate and its detecting bars, which form the presenceindicating member oit the device, in their depressed or operative position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 3, the holder is provided with suitable yielding locking latches e? and the head plate is provided ivith companion locking lips 46 vi'hich are adapted to automatically interlock with said; latches when said iead plate Vis pushed downwardly. U pon releasing the latches by pushing them inwardly trom engagement with their loching lips, the head plate and its' detecting bars are automatically elevated by the springs 42 to the position shoivnby dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Any suitable means may bey employed to r detachably securing the holder 36 Within the ing l5, but as shoivn in Figs. i3, 4,5 and these means preferably comprise a horizontal supporting plate lf extending substantially the l'nll width and depth oi" the casing and attached at itsends thereto, said plate being located. above the transparent portions Q4, 26 oiE the ci'irrespondiiig panels p24), 2l Theupper side of this plate is provided with a Socket or recessed lportitm 'iw,

ing groove 50 in the front Wall of the socket l ile the lower rear side of the holder provided `with a groove 5l which is ada-pted to interlock with aV boiv spring 52 atrhed at its ends to the rear Wall 'said socket. As shown in Figs. 5 and 7,' this socket is Wider than the width ot the holder fai, so .that .in inserting the latter't rerein, the groove 5l thereofis first engaged with the spring :'32 and then pushed rearwardly, compressing said spring andV allowing the tongue lil to clear the opposing wall. oit the socket, aiiter which the holder is permitted to more 'lnivardly by the Vspring to cause said terr-fue to interlock with the Correspcnfb .i gro e 5G in the socket. The removal olf the holder trom its socket is effected by reversingthe steps just described.

In their elevated position, the push rods It() project a suitable distance beioiv the base ot the holder and are adapted to enter alining openings 53 arranged in thebase plate The detecting bars in their elevated position pre tcrably terminate substantially lliish i l t ing member 29 and its holder gli are preferably removable from the casingl l through the door 17 while the absence-indicatiiig member. 28 is permanently arranged within the casing and dependent on said lirst-named member tor moving itto its .respective positions. Upon elevating the presenceindicat ing member through the medium ot the head plate 34:, the absence-indicating member is automatically elevated by its springs 31:3 to the positionshownin Figs. et and 6. while vupon depressing said presence-indicating -tions ot the panel 20, 21.

" and 57.

member to its operative position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the absence-indicating inemA beil is forced downwardly to its inoperative position by the push rods 4t) and hidden Yfrom view between the lower colored por In this position, the presence-indicating member is clearly visible from opposite sides ot the casing through its transparent portions 24, 26, and the same stands ont conspicuously against the contrasting red setting or ground oli' said Casing.

By mounting the presence-indicating member 29 within the detachable holder 3G, the highly finished bars 35 thereofl are .protected against injury when not in use.

Furthermore, by detachably securing this holder within the casing in the manner shown, the supporting plate et( acts as a baille and renders it impossible tor. nn-

authorized persons to practice deption by the use of other indi-eating members.

ToV permit of varying the presence-indicating members tor different automobiles, so that their bars 35 lit only the corresponding openings 54 in the base plate stlsaid bars andztlieir aliningopenings may be made of different shapes 1and sizes in cross section.

As shown in Figs. l and 2. the colored portions 23, 25 and 27 ot the'panels 20, 21 and 22, may be provided with an additional niark or character of identification, tor instance, a letter 56 of a color contrasting with said colored `portion. The presence-indicating member may `also be provided with a coi'- responding cliaracter or letter 5T ofthe same color as said first-named character. By this arrangement, the device not only indicates through the medium et' the presenceindicating member standing out against a contrasting setting or ground, but also b v the corresponding indeiitilication marks 5S ln the use ot this device. when the owner -or other authorized.person occupies or drives the automobile, he sees to it that the presence-indicating member, 29fis in its operative he removes said holder troni the casing and again closes the door and looks it, lo this position. said absence-indicating member is visible through the transparent portions 21.-, 2G ol,2 the casing and Vterms, together with the colored portions 2B, 25 and 2T thereof. a univtornily and completely colored suriare or ground indicating that the owner has lett the car. Should the car be traveling along the streets with the device in this i'iosition,

it will arouse the suspicion that the vehicle is being stolen and patrolinen and others can therefore promptly take the necessary steps to arrest the thiet.

I claim as my invention:

l. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a portion oli `one of its walls provided with a characteristic ground while another portion thereof is transparent, indicating members arranged in said casing and movable into and out of register with the transparent portion ot said casing, one of said members being permanently arranged within said casing, and a holding device for the other indicating member detachably mounted in said casing, one o't'said members being of the same identity as said ground and indicating'the owners absence trom the automobile, and the other member being of a different characteristic nature from said ground and indicating the ownors presence in the automobile.

2. A thett detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a poi'- tion ot one ot' its walls provided with a` characteristic ground while another portion thereof is transparent. an indicating inem- Yinto and out ot lregister with the transparentv portion ot said casing. one ol said members being ot the same characteristic nature as said ground and indicating the owners absence from the automobile, and the other ot. said members being of a different characteristic nature from said ground and indicating the owners presence in the automobile.

3. A theft detector tor automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a portion of one ot its walls provided with a characteristic ground while another portion thereof is transparent, an indicating membei' arranged in one end of said casing and movable into and out of register With the transparent port-ion of said casing, a holder detach/ably mounted in the other end of said casing, a second indicating member carried b v said holder' and movable into and out of v register with the transparent portion of the casing andy controlling the movement of said first-named indicating member, the latter being;` of the same characteristic nature as said ground and said second-indicating member being of a different characteristic' nature from said ground.

Il. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a rolored portion and a transparent portion, a presence-indicator and an absence indicator' yieldingly mounted in said casing and each movable into and out of register with the transparent portion of said casing, one of said indicators constantly tending` to assume an operative position and the other constantly tending to assume an inoperative position, and means for holding said indicators in their operative positions, said absence-indicator being of the same color the colored portion of the casing and said vpresence-indicator being of a contrasting color.

5.A Vtheft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion and a transparent portion, an vabsence-indieator of the'same color as said colored portion arranged in said casd ingand movable into and out of register with said transparent portion, a holder detachably mounted in said casing, a presenceindicator of a color contrasting with said colored portion carried by said holder and movable into and out of the same to register with said transparent portion, and means for holding said presence-indicator in its operative position.

6. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion and a transparent'portion, an absence-indicator of the same color as said colored portion arranged in said casing and movable into and out of register With said transparent portion, a holder mounted in said casing, a presence-indicator of a color contrasting with said colored portion carried by said holder and movable into and out of the same to register with said transparent portion, and means carried by said presence-indicator and adapted for engagement vith said absence-detector to move the same to its inoperative position.

7. Atheft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion and a transparent portion, an absence-indicator of thev same color as said colored portionyieldingly supported in one end of said casing and moving into and out of register with said transparent portion, a holder mounted in the other end of said. casing, and a presence-indicator of a color contrasting With said colored portion yieldingly supported in said holder and movable into and out of the same to register With said transparent portionsaid indicators being movable in unison, one into andthe other out of operative position.

8. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion and a transparent portion, an absence-indicator of the same color as said colored portion vieldingly supported in one end of said casing and movable into and out of register With said transparent portion, a holder mounted in the other end of said casing, a presence-indicator of a color contrasting with said colored portion yieldingly supported in said holder and movable into and out of the same to register With said transparent portion, said indicators being movable in unison, one into and the other out of operative position, and means for holding said indicators in their operative positions.

9. il, theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colered portion and a transparent portion, an absence-indicator of the same color as said vcolored portion arranged in said casing and movable into and out of register with said transparent portion, a holder mounted in said casing, a presence-indicator of a color contrasting with said colored portion carried by said holder and movable into and out of the same to register with said transparent portion and interlocking devices carried by said holder and said presence-indicator for holding the latter in its operative position.

l0. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion and a-transparent portion, an absence-indicator of the same color as said colored portion yieldingly supported in one end of said casing and movable into and out of register with said transparent portion, a holder' mounted in the other end of said casing, a presence-indicator of a color contrasting with said colored portion yieldingly supported in said holder and movable intov and out of the same to register With said transparent portion, said indicators being movable in unison, one into and the other out of operative position, means carried by. said presence-indicator and adapted for engagement with said absenceedetector to move the same to its inoperative position, and interlocking devices carried byA said holder and said presence-indicator for holding the latter in its operative position and said absence-indicator in its inoperative position.

1l. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colered portion and a transparent portion, a supporting plate arranged transversely of said casing above the transparent portion tlieieoi:A and provided with an opening, an indicating member arranged in the loWer portion or said casing and movable into and out et register with said transparent portion, and a second indicating member detachable from said casing and movable through the opening in said plate into and out ot register with said transparent portion, one of said members being of the same color as the colored portion or' said casing, and the other being of a contrasting color.

i'i theift detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion and a transparent portion, a supportingplate arranged transversely of said casing above the transparent portion thereof and provided With an opening, an iniiicating member arranged in the lower portion or said casing and movable into and out of register with said transparent portion, an indicator holder detachably mounted on said supporting plate, a second indicating member carried by said holder and movable through the opening in said plate into and out of the same to register With said transparent portion, one of said inembers being of the same color as the colored portion of said casing, and the other being oit a contrasting color.

i3. il theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a coloied portion and a transparent portion, an absence-indicator of the Same color as said Vcolored portion arranged in said casing and movable into and out or register With said transparent portion, a holder detachably mounted in said casing, and a presence-detector carried by said holder and comprising a head plate guided for movement in said holder, and a plurality of bars depending from said plate and movable into and out of said holder to register with the transparent portion of said casing, said bars being of a contrasting color from said colored portion of the casing.

lil. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion and a transparent portion, an absence-indicator of the same color as said colored portion arranged in said casing and movable into and out oi register With said transparent portion, a supporting plate in said casing above the transparent portion thereof, a holder detachably mounted on aid plate, and a presence-detector carried b i said holder and com risinfr a head late guided for movement in said holder, and a plurality of bars of a contrasting color from said colored portion depending Jfrom said head plate and movable into and out of the holder to register with the transparent portion oi' said casing, said supporting plate being provided with a plurality of openings corresponding` in shape to said bars.

l5. the'li't detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a chai'- acteristic ground, a supporting plate arranged iii said casing and having a socket in its upper side, a holder detachably mounted in said socket, and an indicating member movable into and out of said holder relatively to said ground, said indicating member including a plurality of pendant overlapping bars of uniform shape and said supporting platebeiiig provided with corresponding openings Ylfor receiving said bars.

16. Atheiit detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a characteristic ground, a supporting plate ai'- ranged in said casing and having a socket in its upper side, a holder detachably mounted in said socket, an indicating member movable into and out of said holder relatively to said ground, means tending to maintain said indicating member Within said holder, and means for holding said` member in its projected position.

JOSEPH J. MICHALSKI. 

